As we are now living in the least densely populated city in the world, this is the moment to reflect on the advantages that this should bring. Imagine a city, a green city, with parks, trees, an abundance of open spaces, with gardens for the community to work and play in. Imagine a city that is a pleasure to wander about in, free of cars, where public transport is the norm not the exception. Imagine a city with no new infastructure, with no new roads, no traffic jams, where we could all walk and talk and enjoy our lives. Imagine a city where decisions were based on aesthetics, not on business interests, which benefit the few not the community.

This is a red alert moment for the planet, we need to wake up from our collective slumber and realise that this city is the place that we call home.  We have lost all sense of respect for the natural world. We need to develop hundreds of acres of forests, of green spaces and working beautiful gardens for future generations to enjoy. Let's wake up before it's too late and create a city, a garden city full of beautiful places where nature is the key element not secondary add on.   

So I ask you to consider the fact that Cork City is the least densely populated city in the world. This should be embraced, welcomed, and all future plans should start to see the enormous advantages of a city that could be a model for other cities. Where parklands are the key development, where trees grow unhindered, where productive gardens are paramount, where bio-diversity is the driving force, where all  decisions are  based on environmental and aesthetic objectives, where the paradigm shift is so great that future generations will acknowledge the contribution you have made to saving this city and the world from destruction. It's a red alert moment. Act like it matters now, or there will be no future.